Give Thanks to your GSA

Nov. 23, 2011 — Dave

This week marks a well-known holiday tradition in the United States: Thanksgiving. Whether or not you agree with the origin of this holiday and what it means in the history of our nation, it is a great time to offer thanks to those who work so hard to make it better for LGBTQ youth, every day. If you’re one of those youth advocates who works to make change and promote fair treatment, then you should take a look in the mirror and say to yourself, “THANK YOU!”

If you haven’t seen the incredible work youth activists are doing every day at the Make It Better Project, take some school vacation time to check out the videos on YouTube. You’ll be inspired and may even want to thank these brave individuals yourself!

Check out this video starring youth across the country! From Louisiana to California, these youth are starting and strengthening GSAs, educating their peers on the impact of bullying and harassment, speaking out when bullying occurs, working with their schools’ administration to enforce laws that protect our rights to learn and be safe in schools, recording messages of hope, making themselves heard and creating allies in even the most unlikely of places. To each and every one of you, THANK YOU.

As some of the videos show, making it better can be tough. Many of these brave young people are assisting their friends and people they see struggling. As our friends at Crater High School remind us, we are not alone. The holiday season can be tough for many LGBTQ youth. But always remember, there are people out there who care about you and want to make it better. If you need to talk to someone without judgment, no matter what time of day or night it is, someone will always pick up the phone on the free and confidential Trevor Lifeline. Call 1.866.4.U.TREVOR (1.866.488.7386).